Panel joints and panel joining devices



April 19, 1960 R. R. KELLER 2,933,167

PANEL JOINTS AND PANEL JOINNC DEVICES Filed 4, 1955 27 1% I; f

1N V EN TOR.

lf//l/ I nired States Patent ce 2,933,167' u Y l PANEL JUINTS AND PANEL JOININ DEVICES Robert R. Keller, Manchester, N.H. Application October 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,359 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates to improvements'in panelijoints and panel joining devices. More particularly, the inven.- tion provides improved means for effecting aconnection between adjacent edge portions of adjacent. panels. and between panel edge portions and panel-supportingmembers. The invention is primarily concerned withzmounts ing and joining structural panels which are to constitute walls, partitions, floors or ceilings ofbuildings` butthe herein disclosed features of structural novelty may be utilized in panelled structures generally wherein it may become desirable to eifectively join adjacent panelsy and/ or to effectively secure a panel' or panels to a supporting member.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide` panel securing means wherein spreadabler clamping elements can` effectively lock together edgeportions'of adjacent panels with thelocking means substantially concealed yet readily operable from one side of the panel structure.

Another object of the invention is. to provide a panel joint wherein an expandable clamp isV operable between -two members of which at least one is a panel member, for effecting rigid connection together of the two members withthe expandable clamp substantially entirely between the planes of opposite faces of the panel member or members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panel joint structure wherein clamping means insertible between adjacent edge portions of adjacent-panels isoperable from one side of the panels to effect rigid securementf together of the panels with an effective seal at at leasti one side of the panels and extending throughout thelength oftsaid adjacent edge portions ofthe panels.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a panel joining structure wherein each of adjacent edgepor# tions of adjacent panels has a frame member flanged adjacent to opposite facingA elements of the panel andwherein an expandable clamp is located between said flanged frame elements and is expandable from one side ofV the panels simnltaneouslyintolocking engagement with: the, flanges of both of said frame elements throughout the extent of said flanges at at leastoneanged edge of each ofthe joined panels.

lt is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve panel joining procedures and structures'and more especially to provide improved panel joiningmeans for panels `having flangedV frame elements for. coaetion with` expandable insert clamping means.

-In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a plan View offragments4 oftwo panels joined; together along adjacentedges by'means embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View with portionsin cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a` fragmentary perspective view of the upper clamping member of Fig. 2, in cross-section near one of the screw holes therein;

Fig, 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 buts'howin a modified form of the invention; i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a smaller scale of a relatively short clamping member, a number of whichrmay be distributed in spaced Vrelation along the panel edges in place of the relatively longupperv clamping -member of Figs., 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on a still smaller scale I 2,933,16r Patented Apr. 19, 196,6

showing how right-angularly related panels maybe joined together; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing how a panel may be secured to a supporting structure in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawing, two panels are indicated generally a-t 1f) and 12 with adjacent edges thereof in spaced parallelism. Each panel comprises a rigid frame element 14 extending along an edge of the panel, with panel facing elements 16, 18 secured to the opposite edge portions of the frame elements. The opposite edge portions of each frame element 14 has a flange 20 thereon extendingpto opposite sides of a central web 15, and each flange 20 i's channeled at 21 at each side of the adjacentweb 15 with the channels,A of one flange 20 of a frame element 14 opposite and open toward the similar channels in the other flange of the same frame element.

According to the invention, the panels 1t), 12 may be eectively and relatively quickly secured together by spreadable wedging or inside-clamping members 22, 24 inserted loosely between the adjacent frame elements, 14 of. the two panels and then spread apart, by screws 26', intolocking engagement with the flanges 20 of the frame elements. V

Clamping member 22 preferably will have length equal to orsomewhat less than the length of the panel edges along which the panels are to be joined. lts under side, inFig. 2, is provided with edge ribs 23 which are adapted to engage in the flange channels 21, one in a channel 21 of'. the frame element-of panel lil and the other in achan,a nel 21 of the frame element of panel 12.V Frequently, it is desirable to effect a seal at the panelA joint, and this may beueifectively accomplished by inserting a stripform gas; het 2S between the member 22' and the' two ange portions with which member 22 engages, in. which case the ribs: 23 or the channels 21 will be formed to provide needed clearance so that the gasket will be effectively clamped before the ribsV 23 engage theA bottoms of the flange channels.

Clamping member 24 hasedge ribs 25, comparable to the ribs 23 on member 22, for engaging in the channels 21. of' the flanges 26* at `the other side ofthe two panels. The screws 26 are threaded through holes 27 in member 2.4 and may be screwed inward until their inner ends engage the member 22, following which further inward screwing of the' screws 26 spread members 22, 24 apart and into secure locking engagement With the flanges of panel elements 14. Any suitable number of screws.26 may be suitably spaced apart along the clamping member 2.4 at each panel joint with their heads accessible through thespace at 3h between the adjacentedges of the joined panels.

Ordinarily', it will not be necessary to effect a seal" at tlielocation of clamping member 24, However, should a seal at this location be desirable, it may be accomplished by insertion of a strip-form gasket between the panel flanges and member 24 in a marmer similar to what has. been described in connection with strip-form gasket 28V; inV which case arather precise dimensioning of screws 26v will be necessary to ensure effective sealing `around, thescrew when clamping of the panels has been effected.

Also, in some cases, it may be found desirable to em?. ploy a seriesof relatively short clamping members spaced apart along the panel edges in place of the single long member 24. One such relatively short member 24' is represented in Fig. 5 with a threaded hole 27" therein for. reception of a screw 26.

When joining structural panels to form walls or partitions of buildings, desired aesthetic effects frequentlyl dictate that juncture regions of panel joints have the aspect of concavities rather than being flush joints or joints providing convex aspects. The panel joint of Figs. 1 and if 2,933,197 p y, -Y d 2 provides such an aspect of concavity and the outer edges of the facing elements and anges may be variously bevelled, as suggested by the dotted line at 32 in Fig. 2, to accentuate the concave effect. However, when desired, the-spaceA between the edges of the joined panels may be 'closed or covered by a strip 34 as in Fig. 4 with the screws 26 securing the str-ip 34 in place as well as serving to spread the clamping members. j

`Adjacent edges of angularlyrelated panels may be joined together by utilizing two of the previously described panel clamps, in conjunction with a corner insert unit 'which is indicated generally at 36 in Fig. 6 wherein the two panels 10', 12 may be identical with panels 10, 12 but arranged at right angles to each other, or at `any ofvarious other permissible angles. The illustrated corner unit 36 comprises two frame elements 38, 40 which may be in all espects the same as the panel frame elements 14 and substantially of the same length. Elements $8, 40 are right-angularly disposed, and an arcuate facing element42 extends between their outer flanged edges and is secured thereto.Y The inner flanged edges of the elements38, 40 may be rigidly connected together by insert strip 44 suitably secured to the anged edges. Panel 10 is shown joined to frame element 38 of unit 36 by one pair of clamping members 22, 24, and panel 12 is shown joined to frame element 40 of unit 36 by another pair of clamping members 22, 24, the clamping of the panels and corner unit 36 being effected by screws 26 the same as in the Figs. 1 and 2 embodiment. Fig. 7 shows how a panel may be clamped along one `edge`toy a xed supporting element 46 of a building structure, or the like. A frame element 48, similar to the panel frame elements 14, may be permanently secured to supporting element 46 vby anyl suitable means, and panel 10 then may be clamped to frame element 48, by clamp'- -ing members 22, 24, in the same manner that the panels are secured Vtogether in Figs. 1 and 2. Actually, however, the particular variety of panel herein shown employs acore' structure of angularly related frame elcments .generally similar to the panel frameelements 14 f Fig. 2 and the ends of these elements, or of particular ones of them, may have shape for slidably engaging and interlocking directly with the channelled iianges of a frame element 14, or 48 (Fig. 7), without need for interening clamping members.

,' It should be understood that various changes in details of the herein disclosed structures may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and it is intended .that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the 'appended claims, whatever features of novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

.y I claim as my invention: i" H1. A panel joint comprising a pair of similar generally rigid joint elements, one joint element constituting a frame of ,andextending along an edge of a panel, the other joint element extending in parallelism with said one element and spaced to provide access to the joint fromthe side of the panel .throughout the length of said elements, each of said joint elements having opposite anged edges, the flanges on the edges of the one projecting toward the flanges on the corresponding edges on the otherY of said elements with access space between them,

opposed longitudinal channels in the said projecting anges of each said element, a pair of clamping memb ers arranged between the joint elements, said clamping members vextending between and having means thereon Simultaneously engaging each in the channels of the corresponding anged edges of said spaced parallel joint elements, and means operable through said access .space and threaded through one and engaging the other of said clamping members spreading them apart and into said engagement with the opposed channels of said joint elements thereby to secure said panel It said other rigid joint element.

2. A panel joint comprising a pair of similar generally rigid panel frame elements extending m spaced parallelism and to provide access space between said elements along adjacent edges of two panels which are to be joined together, each of said elements having opposite anged edges, the anges'on the edges of the one projecting toward the flanges on the correspondmg edges on the other of said `frame elements and leaving between them space affording access to said joint from the s1de of said panel, opposed longitudinal channels in said projecting flanges of each said elements, a pair of clamp elements arranged between and having longitudinal ribs i disposed in locking'engagement in the channels at the corresponding ends of said frame elements, and means extendingbetween and in thrust-apart relation to said clamp elements land manipulable from the panel side through said access space expanding said clamp elements tinto said locking engagement with the anges of both said "frame elements thereby rigidly securing together the two said panels.

3. A panel joint comprising a pair of similar generally rigid frame elements extending in spaced parallelism to provide access'space between said elements along adjacent edges of two panels which-are to be joined to-` gether, each of said frame elements having opposite anged edges with the flanges Vat the corresponding edges projecting one toward the-other with said access space between them, the opposite flanges of each said frame element defining opposed longitudinal channels, a rigid strip form member yarranged between said frame elements 'and presenting longitudinal ribs in locking engagement in the corresponding channels at one edge of said frame elements, a co-acting member arranged between said frame elements and having longitudinal ribsthereupon in locking engagement in the corresponding channels at the other edge of said frame elements, and screw means threaded through one and abutting the kother of Y said strip form and co-acting members and operable from the lpanel side and through the said access space forcing saidv members apart into said'locking engagement of their ribs' in said channels, thereby securing said panels rigidly together along adjacent edges thereof. j

` 4. A panel joint comprising a pair of similar generally rigid panel elements extending in spaced parallelism to provide access space between said elements along adjacent edges lof two panels which are to be joined together, each said-element having opposite flanged edges, the anges 'at the edges of one projecting toward the anges atV the corresponding edges of the other 'of said elements with said access space between them, a rigid strip form member arrangedbetween said elements and engaging the Vcorresponding anges at one edge thereof, a co-acting member arranged between said elementsv and engaging the corresponding anges at'tne other edge thereof, means closing across said access space between said anged elements andl approximately in the plane of one faceof the twosaid panels, and a plurality of threaded elementsk threaded through said co-acting member and engaging said strip form member and loperable from the panel side through said access space to force said members into locking engagement y,with the said corresponding anges at said opposite sides of both .said flanged members, said threaded elements having locking engagement also with saidaccess space closing means.

vReferences Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V1,708,351 Y Auld Apr. 9, 1929 1,863,721 Levene June 2.1, 1932 2,007,618 Snead July 9, 1935 '2,362,162 Sheldon Nov. 7, 1944 Y FOREIGN PATENTS 74,872

Norway Apr. 4, 1949 

